Corporate Power Survives Inquiry to Capture Alysheba

Two years after flashing his potential by winning the Sir Barton Stakes on the 2024 Preakness Stakes (G1) undercard, Corporate Power delivered on his promise by edging Skippylongstocking in a rough renewal of the Alysheba Stakes (G2) May 1 at Churchill Downs. Nothing about the $750,000 victory came easily. Corporate Power prevailed by a neck after a prolonged stretch duel, then endured a lengthy stewards' inquiry following contact and drifting between the top two through the lane. In the end, no change was made to the order of finish in the 1 1/16-mile test, prompting celebration from Corporate Power's connections and frustration from the opposing camp. The race unfolded with Nu What's New and East Avenue setting the tempo through fractions of :23.83, :46.56, and 1:10.28. Four lengths behind, Corporate Power and Skippylongstocking tracked the leaders, alternating positions in fourth and fifth before launching their bids entering the far turn. From there, the race became a prolonged test of resolve. The pair surged to the front at the head of the stretch and battled stride for stride to the wire, with Corporate Power narrowly prevailing in a final time of 1:41.82 over a fast track. The inquiry followed almost immediately, with Skippylongstocking's jockey Tyler Gaffalione lodging a foul claim against Corporate Power and rider Jose Ortiz. Gaffalione argued to the stewards in a telephone conversation that Corporate Power drifted inward from the five path, carrying his mount down toward the rail. Ortiz countered that bumping in early stretch was instigated by Skippylongstocking and Gaffalione. Ortiz, intently watching replays of the race on the big-screen television in the Churchill Downs infield after speaking with stewards, exclaimed when an announcement declared no change to the order of finish. Corporate Power paid $13.20 to win. "It was a good race for me and my horse," Ortiz said after the race. "We won it fair and square. There never should have been an objection." Saffie Joseph Jr., trainer of Skippylongstocking, saw it differently, saying leaving the result stand was "a terrible decision. To allow somebody to bump horses for 3 (furlongs) is disgraceful." Baeza, one of the top 3-year-olds of last year who made his first start Friday for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, rallied for third after breaking tardily when unprepared at the start. "They did a poor job at the gate," jockey Junior Alvarado said of Churchill Downs starter Caleb Hays and his crew. "I kept saying, 'No, no, no!'" Baeza and Skippylongstocking were among four grade 1 stakes winners in the seven-horse Alysheba, the others being East Avenue (fourth) and Tappan Street (seventh). With Friday's victory, Corporate Power is now 4-3-0 in 10 starts with earnings of $755,240 for Donald Adam's Courtlandt Farms. Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey initially trained Corporate Power before Steve Asmussen began running the horse this winter, which followed a 15-month break in racing. "I think this horse is a serious contender in the older horse division," Asmussen said. Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Corporate Power is a 5-year-old son of Curlin out of the grade 2-winning Quality Road mare Road to Victory. Courtlandt Farms bought him for $925,000 from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2022. One of North America's top sires, Curlin stood earlier this year for $225,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms before being shelved for the remainder of the ongoing breeding season last month because of declining fertility. Corporate Power is his third graded stakes winner of 2026.